Adampur (Punjab), April 14 (NationPress) In celebration of the birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar, Punjab's Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann officially launched a financial assistance program for women aged 18 and older from this town on Tuesday.

Under this initiative, eligible women will receive a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000, while those from the Scheduled Castes community will benefit from a higher amount of Rs 1,500 each month.

The Chief Minister announced the initiation of the registration process, which requires only three documents for eligibility. To facilitate access, the government will set up camps and deploy support staff to assist women.

The scheme will initially be available in nine Assembly constituencies, with plans to extend it to the remaining 108 constituencies starting May 15. Payments are scheduled to commence in July, and there will be no cut-off date for registration.

With a network of 26,000 registration centers and dedicated Mahila Satkar Sakhis in every village and ward, this program stands out as one of the most extensive direct financial support schemes for women in the nation.

Alongside senior AAP leader Manish Sisodia, CM Mann mentioned that the pilot phase has begun in nine locations, including Adampur, Malout, Anandpur Sahib, Dirba, Sunam, Moga, Kotkapura, Batala, and Patiala rural.

“The registration process for women in the remaining 108 constituencies will kick off on May 15, with monthly payments of Rs 1,000 or Rs 1,500 set to start in July,” he stated. CM Mann reassured women about accessibility, emphasizing, “There is no registration deadline, so women need not worry about when they sign up—be it April 15, May 15, or August 15.”

He further noted that late registration would not impact the benefits received. “Even if they register at the end of September, they will still receive full payments for July, August, and September,” he explained.

Addressing concerns about the lack of caste certificates among women, CM Mann stated, “I understand that many of my SC sisters and mothers do not possess a certificate, but they need not worry and should just apply for it.”

He assured continuous benefits, saying, “If the certificate is delayed, they can still register under the scheme and start receiving Rs 1,000 monthly. Once their certificate is ready, the state government will compensate them with an additional Rs 500 per month from July onwards.”

To guarantee comprehensive coverage, the Chief Minister introduced a grassroots outreach plan. “To ensure every woman above 18 years is informed, the Punjab government will deploy Mahila Satkar Sakhis in all villages and wards throughout Punjab.”

Explaining their responsibilities, he added, “Mahila Satkar Sakhis will visit beneficiaries' homes, clarify the scheme's benefits, address any concerns, and provide the registration forms. They will guide beneficiaries through the registration process, detailing the required documents and resolving any queries.”